Mitsuri winced as she felt her broken ribs make contact with a nearby tree. She had jumped out of the way of yet another attack thanks to Iguro's warning. She ignored the screaming pain as she realized even her shoulder was dislocated, forcing herself to stand up. She dug her sword into the ground and used it to push herself up from the ground.
"Iguro-kun!" She screamed, trying to scan the heavily destroyed surroundings but not finding a sign of him.
Limping but determined, she picked up her pace as much as her body would allow her and ran deeper into some underbrush where she guessed he might have gone through, judging from the broken branches.
It could have been Apollo, but Mitsuri guessed he was not the type to hide. He was a God, after all. And all Gods have such pride that they would not move in darkness.
Breaking through the bushes, she gasped to find his body on the ground. Running to his side, her fingers shook as she reached out to feel for a pulse.
"No, no. Please no." She murmured, her eyes welling with tears as she touched his neck. Feeling a faint pulse, she was immediately relieved and sat down on the ground in relief. She was about to pull back when he suddenly caught her wrist.
His eyes opened slowly and glanced up at her crying face. "I'm alright. How are your wounds?" He hoarsely asked.
She brushed a tear away and gripped his hand as she shook her head. "I'll live. Where are you hurt?" She asked instead, already reaching out with her free hand to look clear at the blood on his forehead with the corner of her haori.
He sat up slowly and used his sleeve to brush the tears from her face. "We don't have much time. I'll distract him and you go ahead. I'll catch up."
Mitsuri shook her head, her eyes filling with tears again. "No, let's go together. I won't leave you."
Iguro reached over and his snake peeked out from under Mitsuri's sleeve. "He's too strong for the both of us. Our best chance is to split up."
Mitsuri looked to argue again but a tinkling bell softly cut through the evening air and the couple glanced over to the nearby bushes to find a familiar orange cat patiently sitting and licking its paws.
"It's Tamayo's familiar. She must have sent him for a reason." Iguro reasoned, noting the vials securely strapped around its body.
Mitsuri held out a hand and the cat walked gracefully towards them. It allowed itself to be petted by Mitsuri, before glancing up at Iguro with its bright golden eyes.
Iguro and Mitsuri both took a vial and looked to the cat, who seemed content to know its mission was complete. With a flick of its tail, it hopped into the opposite bushes, the sound of the bell under his collar ringing with his exit.
The couple looked to each other, observing the dark liquid. "It looks similar to what Nezuko-chan uses to become a demon." Mitsuri murmured, her light gaze noting the coloring. "But this one seems…different. And we've never had to use this before. It was meant for Nezuko-chan alone."
Iguro looked grimly at the vial. "We've always had Muzan and the moon demons to support, as needed. There was no need to rely on such methods. But it would make sense to use this now that we face a stronger opponent that even the moon demons cannot defeat."
Mitsuri hesitated but nodded in agreement. They both looked to each other before taking the vial to their lips.